Makeup Revolution: Fortune Favours the Brave eyeshadow palette

Earlier this year Makeup Revolution teamed up with British Beauty Blogger to create the beautiful Fortune Favours the Brave eye shadow palette. This thirty pan palette encased in sleek gold packaging contains a beautiful range of matte, shimmery and sheeny shadows in gorgeous neutral and deep jewel tones.

Disappointing product: L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer

L'Oreal's Lumi Magique concealer promises to brighten eyes and conceal imperfections as well as highlight areas of the face. I have some fairly noticeable eyebags so thought that this would be perfect for me.

Seventeen Shimmer Brick in Pink Bronze

Shimmer bricks are such a wonderful multi use product. They work as a highlight, bronzer, eyeshadow and even a sheen blush if the formula is right. I picked up this pretty pink toned shimmer brick from Seventeen a month ago when they had a buy one get one half off offer.

In the pan there are four gorgeous rose gold highlight shades. The last swatch in the image above is the four colours together. Each colour is well pigmented and very shimmery. They give off a nice highlight sheen but there is some detectable glitter so one to be weary of if wearing in sunlight.

The formula is oddly a bit stiff, it feels hard in the pan rather than creamy like a lot of good powder formulas I have. That said it is well pigmented and applies well, it just is perhaps a tiny bit chalky.

The real let down for me is the colour. While I love the beautiful rose gold highlight tones, they are far too dark for my super pale skin. I think that as a highlight palette this would work well for somebody with darker skin.

I can still use this shimmer brick as eyeshadow and if I'm feeling adventurous I'll reach for the lightest shade as a warm highlight but it's not a formula I would write home about so perhaps it's one to skip. Makeup revolutions shimmer brick packs much more of a punch!

Seventeen instant glow shimmer brick, £4.99

Disappointing Product: Topshop Smoke Stick

I love the idea of eyeshadow sticks. A quick and easy product that helps to create a one step makeup look. Build up a smokey eye in seconds. Unfortunately so many of the eyeshadow sticks or eyeshadow pencils that I've tried end up looking crease, too sheer and rough in texture on the lid.

I picked up three of the Topshop shadow sticks in a gift set and was excited to Tey out the gorgeous metallic shades. A peak nude,  a champagne shimmer and a deep chocolate bronze.

These swatch ok and are nicely pigmented. The lighter shades have a beautiful metallic shimmer while the brown is a little less shimmery but not matte.

Unfortunately when applied to the eyes these were pretty awful. While the formula is creamy enough it applied very patchy and sat on the skin rather than blending in. When blending out the product looked smudge and uneven. I can't comment on the lasting power because I haven't worn these enough to test it out.

These are issues I've had with similar product before so I'm not surprised. I think I may just be very picky with cream eyeshadow formulas, I'm looking for something smooth and blend able with an even pigment that sets down.

I love the No7 Shade and Define sticks, they're brilliantly smooth and long wearing. I would recommend those over the Topshop Smoke Sticks any day.

Topshop Smoke Sticks, £6.50

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Matte-Lip

 

I've been on the hunt for some of the matte dusty pink/nudes that have been so popular in the last few months. So when I spotted these adorable little matte lip crayons from Soap and Glory I snapped them up. 

Makeup Revolution Salvation Palette Girls on Film

I have so many neutral eyeshadow palettes now, that I'm really spoilt for choice when I sit down to apply my makeup. Recently though I've really been reaching for the Makeup Revolution Girls On Film palette.

Soap and Glory Supercat Eyeliner

 

I love a felt tip liner for quick and easy liner application and this one from Soap and Glory has been my faithful friend for years now. There are a bunch of great options on the highstreet now but not all are made equal. 

L'Oreal Brow Artiste Shaper

While I love using a powder on my brows for a natural and full shape, and I reach for a brow mascara when I really want to pump up the volume, day to day I always reach for a pencil because nothing builds up shape and quickly defines like an eyebrow pencil. L'Oreal's Brow Artiste Shaper in Brunette has been my brow pencil of choice for a year or so now and I've repurchased it over and over. 

Makeup Revolution: Vivid Shimmer Brick Radiant

 

In a recent Makeup Revolution order, I picked up this gorgeous shimmer brick for just £3. I don't own any other shimmer bricks and couldn't say no to the gorgeous golden shimmers for such a low price.

Benefit Tinted Lash Primer & Roller Lash

I have been using Benefit's Tinted Lash Primer for a couple of months now and I really like it on its own as a low key brown mascara. It's perfect for the office and quick, easy makeup routines. Certainly a lighter formula than the original They're Real mascara but it still adds a good amount of length and definition.

I realised recently that I'd never actually used it as a lash primer so I gave it a roll with Benefits Roller Lash.

Dewy and glowing: easy highlighting tip

Today I wanted to share a quick highlighting trick that I've been doing in the past few weeks. This little step helps my highlight look really natural and dewy. 

An old favourite: Benefit's Benetint

I wanted to talk about an old favourite today. I've used Benefit's Benetint for a good five years now, ever since I got a tiny bottle with a magazine and it was instant love.

Collection Eyes Uncovered palette in Nude Grey

I love a good drugstore eyeshadow palette and these eyes uncovered palettes from collection are some of my favourites. I was excited to see that they've bought out some new shades recently (although I have a feeling this one was already released) which inspired me to pick up Nude Grey. 

January Favourites 2016

This months favourites are all fairly nude - I haven't picked out a favourite lipstick or anything colourful because in January I didn't really stick to one. These favourites comprise of some long term loves, rediscoveries and a new base technique!

Five bright lip shades for Spring

It's still technically a month and a half until Spring begins - but I'm ignoring that and pretending that it's warm every time the sun shines. Nothing makes me feel more in the mood for the fair season than a bright lip and it's the perfect way to brighten dull winter skin. Here are five bright lip's to tide you over until warmer weather, all from the drugstore. 

Perfect base products for very pale skin

Finding base products for very pale skin can be tricky. As a pale girl I spent a long time without foundation because I just couldn't find any that matched my pale skin. Thankfully I now have a selection of base products that suit my light complexion and I wanted to share them.

Makeup Revolution's affordable cream blush palette

Cream blush is my favourite because I love the natural, dewy flush to the cheeks that it gives. Cream blushers however aren't always as easy to find on the high street. One of my favourite formula's is Stilla's Convertible Colour, but at £16 a pop they aren't cheap. My prayers were answered one day when I spotted this cheap as chips Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette in All About Cream.

Benefit's lash curling Roller Lash review

I'm a long time fan of Benefit's They're Real mascara so I was excited to try out the newer release, Roller Lash.

Head over heels for taupe

Left to right H&M eyeliner in over the taupe, Pixi eye palette in rich gold shades two and four, No7 Stay Perfect shade and define stick in cool mink

In the latter half of 2015, I developed a new found love for one colour; taupe. I've had affairs with shades before; golds were a favourite for a long time and for a while I obsessed over pink tones. Recently however, I've fallen head over heels for the understated taupe. A little brown, a little silver and often with a hint of purple it's the perfect shade for your everyday look but also a wonderful candidate for a smoky eye. Taupe is your new best friend and below are a few of my favourite taupe products.

Best in Beauty 2015: Makeup

2016 has arrived! I've pinned up a brand new calendar and written the first entry in my five year diary. So far I've not worn a stitch of makeup for the whole year but that's likely to change, and when it does I'm sure to be pulling out some of my favourites from the last year. Here they are.